13 Things Movies Predicted Wrong About the Future

The future is finally here: In Back to the Future Part II, Marty McFly travels to October 21, 2015, to save his eventual children. And in the movie, there were plenty of ideas of what today would be like. Some were a hit (drones and big screen TVs), some were a miss (hoverboards, anyone?), and some are still up in the air (Chicago Cubs winning the World Series).

Back to the Future II made other hilariously off-base predictions. But it wasn't the only film that got the future wrong. Take a look:

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1Diners will include workout bikes.

via ScreenCrush

In Marty McFly's world, the hip retro Cafe 80s included stationary exercise bikes for diners to pedal on while they ate. While the technology for this does exist, we think the human stomach (and food inspectors) would object.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

2We would colonize the moon by 2001.

Getty ImagesMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Sure, the makers of 2001: A Space Odyssey gave themselves — and society — decades to get with the program. But by 2001, we still hadn't colonized the moon, journeyed to Jupiter, created a space station for civilians, or discovered alien artifacts. But, getting a straight answer from Siri occasionally does feel like dealing with the homicidal, self-aware computer depicted in the film.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

3Mailboxes would have fax machines, too!

via ScreenCrush

In Hill Valley's 2015 town square sits a "Pac-Fax" mailbox, which has a large black monitor attached. Don't have time to wait for snail mail? Digitally send a fax — at the same location! Well, that one sort of happened: It's called email.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4We'd only eat at Taco Bell.

Getty ImagesWarner Brothers

Demolition Man is set in 2032, so there's still time — but this 1993 film (starring Sandra Bullock and Sylvester Stallone) featured a world where there weren't any murders after 2010 and prisoners were cryogenically frozen. Oh, and a 2010 earthquake combined L.A. and San Diego into the city of San Angeles (obviously.) But the most baffling part of the film is that Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the Franchise Wars, so it's literally the only place to eat. (One thing they did get right? Sandra Bullock actually does look like this in the future.)

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

5Everyone will travel on hoverboards.

Universal Studios

This is the one that everybody dreams of: the hoverboard. Companies like Lexus are trying to develop their own models — and HUVr has a prototype that may be the answer! But for now, floating skateboards are still the stuff of the future.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

6Time travel would be common by 2004.

Getty ImagesLargo Entertainment

In the 1994 sci-fi film Timecop, Jean-Claude Van Damme (in his highest-grossing hit) plays a cop who polices time travel, which has become commonplace by 2004. If only the writers could go back and change that one.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7Fruit baskets will drop from the ceiling.

via ScreenCrush

All Marty needed to say was, "Fruit!" and this delicious fruit and veggie feast was lowered. (The film doesn't specify whether the fruits are grown in the Garden Center or if they have to be filled from the store.) But forget the hoverboard — who wouldn't want an innovation that stores your food in the attic?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

8The world will end in 2012.

Columbia Pictures

Disaster movie 2012 played out the ancient Mayans' prediction about the end times onscreen. In the 2009 film, the earth's crust becomes unstable; as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes wreak havoc across the planet. (Fortunately, John Cusack fights to save his family — and humanity.)

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

9There will be 18 "Jaws" sequels.

In reality, the Jaws franchise only made it to a fourth film (and it wasn't directed by Steven Spielberg's son, Max). But that didn't stop Universal from putting out a fake trailer for Jaws 19. Enjoy!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10Manhattan will be a maximum security prison.

Rialto Pictures/Studiocanal

In 1988, Manhattan was evacuated and became a maximum security prison for the entire country. By 1997 (the setting for this 1981 action flick), the world is emerging from WWIII. (Kurt Russell plays a special ops war hero tasked with rescuing the president, naturally.)

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

11All men will be infertile by 2009.

Universal Pictures

At least according to 2006 thriller Children of Men's bleak vision. By 2027, the human race is dying out after decades of infertility. (Clive Owen plays a man tasked with saving the only baby miraculously born in decades.) While the birth rate is falling, it's a relief that this one hasn't come to pass.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

12Cars will fly before 2019.

Getty ImagesWarner Bros.

So, Blade Runner still has four more years until it's vision of a future 2019 will be proven wrong. But we're thinking that the 1982 film (starring Harrison Ford and Daryl Hannah) may still be a little off about flying cars, job opportunities on other planets, and very attractive robots who experience human emotions.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13Or at least they'll drive themselves.

TarexOrthver via Youtube.com

In 1990 film Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger's character gets driven around in a self-driving taxicab. (The jury is still out whether this homicidal robot would be any safer than actual NYC taxi drivers.)

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.